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Commentary

Between East and West: Navigating alliances in the Western Balkans

The Western Balkans, shaped by conflict and shifting alliances, remain geopolitically significant in a fast-changing world. A survey conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) highlights the fragmented nature of public opinion across the region. While some states lean West, others align more with Russia and China. ELN Visiting Fellow, Dr Leon Hartwell, writes that anti-Western propaganda is deepening these divisions, further complicating EU and NATO integration. He emphasises the need for a more strategic and coordinated Western approach in response.

17 February 2025 | Dr Leon Hartwell
Russia-West relationsBalkansDefenceDemocracyDiplomacyEUEuropeForeign policyNATORussia-West Relations
Report

Strengthening parliamentary oversight of the security sector in the Western Balkans

The Western Balkans stands at a critical juncture as several states grapple with increasingly authoritarian political environments that threaten their democratic institutions and legal frameworks. In this new report, Dr Leon Hartwell provides an in-depth analysis of parliamentary oversight in seven Western Balkan states – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia – and offers actionable recommendations for these states, the EU, and NATO to address these challenges.

27 November 2024 | Dr Leon Hartwell
BalkansEUNATOSecurity
Commentary

Ukraine needs more than bangers and mash: Envisioning a strategic goal for NATO

On NATO’s 75th anniversary, and as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its third year, Dr Leon Hartwell calls on NATO member states with larger economies to match the economic contributions to Ukraine of smaller NATO countries, as a percentage of GDP. He argues that if NATO properly utilised its economic advantage over Russia, Ukraine would then have the necessary capacity to win on the battlefield.

7 March 2024 | Dr Leon Hartwell
Euro-Atlantic SecurityRussia-West relationsDefenceEastern EuropeEuropeNATORussiaRussia-West RelationsUkraine